Lavandula plant named ‘Niko’

ABSTRACT

A new cultivar of  Lavandula  plant named ‘Niko’ that is characterized by flower spikes with purple flowers, a round shape with a compact habit, foliage that does not dieback in the center of the plant, a long period of field production and strong resistance to both Summer and Winter  pythium  species.

Botanical classification: Lavandula angustifolia.

Variety denomination: ‘Niko’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar ofLavandula plant botanically known as Lavandula angustifolia andhereinafter referred to by the cultivar name ‘Niko’.

‘Niko’ was discovered as a whole plant mutation of Lavandula ‘Grosso’.‘Niko’ was discovered as a single plant in a bed of Lavandula ‘Grosso’plants in 2007 in a cultivated area of Kintnersville, Pa.

Asexual reproduction of the new cultivar ‘Niko’ first occurred byterminal cuttings in 2007 in Kintnersville, Pa. Since that time, undercareful observation, the unique characteristics of the new cultivar havebeen uniform, stable and reproduced true to type in successivegenerations of asexual reproduction.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The following represent the distinguishing characteristics of the newLavandula cultivar ‘Niko’. These traits in combination distinguish‘Niko’ as a new and distinct cultivar apart from other existing knownvarieties of Lavandula.

-   -   1. Lavandula ‘Niko’ exhibits flower spikes with purple flowers.    -   2. Lavandula ‘Niko’ exhibits a compact habit.    -   3. Lavandula ‘Niko’ exhibits a round shape.    -   4. Lavandula ‘Niko’ exhibits foliage that does not dieback in        the center of the plant.    -   5. Lavandula ‘Niko’ exhibits a long period of field production.    -   6. Lavandula ‘Niko’ exhibits strong resistance to both Summer        and Winter pythium species.

The closest comparison cultivar is Lavandula ‘Grosso’ (not patented).‘Niko’ is distinguishable from ‘Grosso’ by the followingcharacteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Niko’ has a more compact and rounded habit than ‘Grosso’.    -   2. ‘Niko’ has no foliage dieback in the center. The leaves of        ‘Grosso’ experience dieoff in the center of the plant.    -   3. ‘Niko’ has a longer period of field production than ‘Grosso’.

In comparison to Lavandula ‘Hidcote’ (not patented), ‘Niko’ isdistinguishable from ‘Hidcote’ by the following characteristics:

-   -   1. ‘Niko’ has a smaller overall size than ‘Hidcote’.    -   2. ‘Niko’ has shorter lateral branches than ‘Hidcote’.    -   3. ‘Niko’ has smaller flower spikes than ‘Hidcote’.    -   3. ‘Niko’ has lighter purple colored flowers than ‘Hidcote’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The accompanying photographs illustrate the distinguishing traits ofLavandula ‘Niko’.

The plant in the photograph of sheet 1 shows an overall view of a 1 yearold plant.

Sheet 2 shows a close up view of a flower spike.

The photographs were taken using conventional techniques and althoughcolors may appear different from actual colors due to light reflectanceit is as accurate as possible by conventional photographic techniques.

BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION OF THE PLANT

The following is a detailed description of the new Lavandula cultivarnamed ‘Niko’. Data was collected in Mainz, Germany from 1 year oldplants grown outdoors in 16 cm. diameter containers. The time of yearwas Summer and the average temperature was 15 to 30 degrees Centigradeduring the day and 12 to 20 degrees Centigrade at night. The light levelwas natural light. No photoperiodic treatments or growth retards wereused. Color determinations are in accordance with The RoyalHorticultural Society Colour Chart 2007 edition, except where generalcolor terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used. The growingrequirements are similar to the species. ‘Niko’ has not been testedunder all possible conditions and phenotypic differences may be observedwith variations in environmental, climatic, and cultural conditions,however, without any variance in genotype.

-   Botanical classification: Lavandula angustifolia ‘Niko’.

Annual or perennial: Perennial.

-   Parentage: ‘Niko’ is a whole plant mutation of Lavandula    angustifolia ‘Grosso’.-   Vigor: Strong.-   Growth habit: Upright.-   Plant shape: Rounded, mounding.-   Suitable container size: 16 cm. pots.-   Height: 50 cm. in height.-   Width: 50 cm. in width.-   Low temperature tolerance: USDA Zone 5.-   High temperature tolerance: 40° Centigrade.-   Propagation: Terminal cuttings.-   Time to initiate roots in summer: 16 days to initiate roots at 22°    Centigrade.-   Time to initiate roots in winter: 24 days to initiate roots at 20°    Centigrade.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner in summer: 20 days at 22°    Centigrade.-   Time to produce a rooted cutting or liner in winter: 28 days at 20°    Centigrade.-   Crop time: Approximately 15 weeks.-   Root system: Fine and fibrous.-   Stem:    -   -   Basal branching.—Yes.        -   Average number of lateral branches.—20.        -   Pinching.—No.        -   Lateral branch diameter.—2.5 mm. in diameter.        -   Lateral branch length.—12 cm. in length.        -   Internode length.—2 cm.        -   Stem shape.—Square.        -   Stem strength.—Strong.        -   Stem color.—137D.        -   Pubescence.—Present.-   Foliage:    -   -   Leaf arrangement.—Opposite.        -   Compound or single.—Single.        -   Number of leaves per lateral branch.—8.        -   Leaf shape.—Ligulate.        -   Leaf apex.—Acute.        -   Leaf base.—Cuneate.        -   Leaf length.—5.5 cm. in length.        -   Leaf width.—0.6 cm. in width.        -   Texture.—Covered with short hairs on both sides.        -   Leaf margin.—Entire.        -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate.        -   Young leaf color (upper surface).—122B.        -   Young leaf color (lower surface).—133D.        -   Mature leaf color (upper surface).—137C.        -   Mature leaf color (lower surface).—137D.        -   Vein color (upper surface).—137C.        -   Vein color (under surface).—137D.        -   Leaf attachment.—Petiolate.        -   Petiole dimensions.—2 mm. in length, and 2 mm. in diameter.        -   Petiole color.—144D.        -   Durability of foliage to stress.—Strong.        -   Foliage fragrance.—Strongly scented.-   Flower:    -   -   Inflorescence arrangement.—Terminal and lateral            verticillasters.        -   Spike shape.—Cylindrical.        -   Inflorescence dimensions.—4.5 cm. in length and 1.3 cm. in            width.        -   Quantity of flowers per inflorescence.—40.        -   Quantity of flowers per lateral stem.—8 to 15 spikes.        -   Quantity of flower buds per lateral stem.—8 to 15 spikes.        -   Quantity of flowers and buds per plant.—50 to 70 spikes.        -   Number of harvestable stems per year.—35 to 50.        -   Natural flowering season.—June to July.        -   Time to flower.—6 weeks.        -   Rate of flower opening.—Every 3 to 4 days.        -   Fragrance.—Strong.        -   Flower bud length.—8 mm.        -   Flower bud diameter.—2 mm.        -   Flower bud shape.—Ovate.        -   Bud color.—93B.        -   Rate of bud opening.—3 to 4 days.        -   Flower aspect.—Outward.        -   Flower shape.—Labiate.        -   Flower dimensions.—5 mm. in diameter and 6 mm. in height.        -   Flower longevity.—5 days.        -   Number of petals.—5.        -   Fused or unfused.—Fused.        -   Petal arrangement.—Zygomorphic.        -   Petal texture.—Smooth both sides.        -   Petal shape.—Ligulate.        -   Petal margin.—Entire.        -   Petal apex.—Obtuse.        -   Petal base.—Fused.        -   Petal length.—3 mm.        -   Petal width.—2 mm.        -   Petal color when opening (upper side).—90D.        -   Petal color when opening (under side).—N87C.        -   Petal color fully opened (upper side).—90D.        -   Petal color fully opened (under side).—N87C.        -   Petal color fading to.—90D.        -   Self-cleaning or persistent.—Persistent.-   Bracteoles: Absent.-   Sepals:    -   -   Sepal arrangement.—Fused.        -   Number of sepals.—2.        -   Sepal shape.—Ovate.        -   Sepal margin.—Entire.        -   Sepal apex.—Obtuse.        -   Sepal base.—Fused.        -   Sepal texture.—Slightly rough, covered with fine hairs on            both sides.        -   Sepal dimensions.—7.0 mm. in length and 2.0 mm. in width.        -   Young sepal color (upper side).—N87C and 149D.        -   Young sepal color (under side).—N87C and 149D.        -   Mature sepal color (upper side).—N87C and 149D.        -   Mature sepal color (under side).—N87C and 149D.-   Calyx:    -   -   Calyx shape.—Fused.        -   Calyx dimensions.—7 mm. in length and 2 mm. in diameter.-   Peduncle:    -   -   Peduncle dimensions.—45 cm. in length and 3 mm. in diameter.        -   Peduncle angle.—0 to 30 degrees from vertical.        -   Peduncle strength.—Strong.        -   Peduncle texture.—Slightly rough, covered with fine hairs on            both sides.        -   Peduncle color.—137C.-   Reproduction organs:    -   -   Stamen number.—5.        -   Anther shape.—Ovate.        -   Anther size.—1.5 mm.        -   Anther color.—12B.        -   Amount of pollen.—High.        -   Pollen color.—12B.        -   Pistil number.—1.        -   Pistil length.—2.0 mm.        -   Stigma shape.—Reniform.        -   Stigma color.—149D.        -   Style length.—2 mm.        -   Style color.—149D.        -   Ovary color.—149D.-   Seed:    -   -   Quantity of seeds.—3 to 5 per flower.        -   Seed dimensions.—0.5 mm. in length and 0.2 mm. in diameter.        -   Seed color.—N144A.-   Disease and pest resistance: Strong resistance to both Summer and    Winter pythium species.

The invention claimed is:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Lavandulaplant named ‘Niko’ as described and illustrated.